Kim Bu-young, the head of Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang Province, who was on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, was found dead leaving a suicide note.
Governor Kim was the accused of violating the Public Official Election Act.
The Miryang branch of the Changwon District Prosecutor's Office indicted Kim without detention on November 30 last year on charges of bribing the electorate.
Between March and June of last year, ahead of the June 1 local elections, in order to spread the support for competing candidates, Kim made an administrator named Kim, whom he knew, run as the Democratic Party's Changnyeong-gun candidate, and in return, three related officials, including Administrator Kim, through acquaintances. After promising to provide 100 million won to 300 million won each, he was accused of bribing the voters by delivering 130 million won over three times.
Kim was scheduled to attend the trial on the 11th.
In the meantime, several mayors of Changnyeong, including Mayor Kim, have not been able to complete their terms.
From the introduction of the local autonomy system in 1995 to the inauguration of the 8th civil election in July of last year, while six people served as mayor of Changnyeong County, two people lost their military posts while in office on charges of bribery.
Kim Jong-kyu, former mayor of Changnyeong County, lost his position as county governor after receiving a final ruling from the Supreme Court in July 2006 on bribery charges.
Former county mayor Ha Jong-geun, who was elected in the by-election that led to the loss of county governor Kim Jong-gyu's post, resigned voluntarily in October 2007 while undergoing an appeal trial on bribery charges.
(Photo = Yonhap News)